MUSEUMS IN PLEA FOR SUPPORT

Car venues whose income has been cut off by coronavirus ask for YOUR help

The British Motor Museum has called on classic fans to help it raise funds after its main income was cut off by the coronavirus pandemic.

Museums across the UK, including the Gaydon-based attraction, were closed to the public on 23 March under guidance issued from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; staff were sent home on 14 March. The venue, which received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Jaguar Land Rover and Jaguar Heritage Trust and others in 2013 for redevelopment, has now asked for public donations on social media.

A statement on Twitter said:

‘ With the museum closed due to COVID-19 we have lost our main source of income’.

Beaulieu, which receives no government funding, is also appealing for funds. A spokesperson said: ‘Over the years, the National Motor Museum Trust has been grateful for the many donations big and small that it has received to help fund its work in preserving its important collections and running its education programme. ‘The closure of the Beaulieu visitor attraction, home to the National Motor Museum, has affected the charity’s funding severely, but has not put it at risk of imminent permanent closure.’

Other privately-owned museums are treading water. Myreton Motor Museum curator, Colin Anderson, said of the East Lothian attraction: ‘ We’re a very small museum run by volunteers so we’re managing okay. We have a bit of money in the bank to cover bills but we’re obviously missing out on income. There’s not a lot we can do but at least we don’t have to worry about wages.’

Atwell-Wilson Motor Museum curator, Michael Bennett, said: ‘Finance is okay – we’ve applied for business rate rebates and that side is good. The downside is that many people here are in their Seventies and if more restrictions are placed on vulnerable people we don’t know how we are going to overcome that.

‘ We also do wedding hire from the museum and have seen cancellations, but they are rebooking for next year.’

The British Motor Museum – home to more than 300 significant classics – says that its main source of funding has been cut off during the coronavirus lockdown.